Featured in DebateOut forum on child migration to the U.S. moderated by Katie Dupere on 18 November

To read opinions of the three others who participated in the debate, “Is the U.S. Properly Handling the Child Immigration Crisis?,” access the entire forum here: http://www.debateout.com/debate-central-american-child-immigration-crisis/.

What do you think about the surge of Central American children coming into the U.S.?

“I hope those who are not yet involved in treating therefugees arriving as our fellow brothers, sisters, mothers,fathers, sons, daughters and friends will soon feel theempathy and compassion to do so.”

“According to a study done in July, over 70 percent of the U.S. population believes that arriving unaccompanied Central American children are refugees. That is good news, because refugees are people who flee for their lives and cannot be protected by their nations. Therefore, the international community steps in to provide protection.

“At the same time, a number of activists, churches, medical practitioners, non-profit organizations, lawyers and others have organized in the communities along the border where Central American refugees first arrive, and in their destinations within the United States, to make sure they have basic services and care. This is commendable. A number of individuals and organizations are volunteering their time and resources to document abuses and provide legal and medical counsel as well.

“I think this is the true spirit of our nation, and I hope those who are not yet involved in treating the refugees arriving as our fellow brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters and friends will soon feel the empathy and compassion to do so.”

What do you see happening from a political standpoint?

“Because they do not understand the real reasonschildren are fleeing, they have proposed changesto laws that currently protect children.”

“A handful [of politicians] have publicly acknowledged that many children are fleeing violence and abuse, and they have helped advocate for children to have legal representation. Many other politicians have ignored studies and have bought into rumors that promises of immigration reform have driven children North, rather than a fear for their lives, a lack of opportunities or a strong desire to be with family after years apart. Because they do not understand the real reasons children are fleeing, they have proposed changes to laws that currently protect children.

“At the same time, more broadly, politicians have failed to pass comprehensive immigration reform, and even the package that passed the Senate was far too focused on border security. [It] did not offer visas for transnational families or those afraid for their lives, and it did not propose a path to citizenship for the majority of our nation’s undocumented population.”

What do you say to those who disagree with your opinion?

“I hear three main arguments for why children arecoming that are not supported by my 700 interviewswith child migrants on their way to the United States.”

“One: rumors of immigration reform are driving migration. Two: the region has always been violent, so this cannot account for why kids leave today. Three: children and adults do not know the risk they run on the journey.

“[On the first point,] the U.S. normally does not pay any attention to Central America, and from June to present, the U.S. has addressed the region frequently and sent several high-level officials. Many took this to mean that the U.S. would like to help and realized the seriousness of their need to leave. In these countries, there is always the stated and the unstated. Many believed that while the U.S. was stating there was no ‘permisos,’ they actually wanted to send the opposite message that there were but without having to receive too many. This seems rather absurd, but it makes sense in regional context where laws are often passed but then never enacted.

“It is true that the region has long been violent, partially because of U.S. policy, but the violence has increased, and it disproportionately impacts young people. A UNICEF report was recently released that named El Salvador as the most deadly country in the world for young people aged 0 to 19. Guatemala is second most dangerous, and Honduras is eleventh most dangerous.

“Children and adults are very aware of the risks they run migrating. A study released in December 2013 reported that 57 percent of migrants willingly forego their human rights when migrating and are willing to endure rape, kidnapping, maiming and even death at the chance of reaching the United States. This speaks to their desperation. Adolescents I’ve interviewed perform very logical risk analyses in which they determine that the risks of going are less than the risks of staying.”

What do you believe is causing the surge? Do you have any insight on conditions from being in El Salvador?

“Among adolescents, many recount that they never wanted to migrateto the U.S., but then [a threat] occurred and they no longer felt safe.”

“While children from El Salvador — and Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico — often migrate for a number of interrelated reasons, including family reunification, extreme poverty, work, domestic abuse and desire to pursue advanced studies, a large number are afraid for their lives. In my study, 188 of 322 have listed this reason.

“Among adolescents, many recount that they never wanted to migrate to the U.S., but then an assault, a threat, an extortion demand or a series of murders in their neighborhoods occurred and they no longer felt safe.

“The reasons that children are leaving El Salvador (and Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico) right now are complex and related to structural issues, including endemic violence, poverty, transnational families and lack of economic and social opportunities. Many of these structural issues are deeply influenced by United States domestic and foreign policies, primarily the preference for free trade agreements that have resulted in growing inequality, a militaristic war on drugs that has only increased human rights abuses among military and police forces, the deportation of gang members trained in the United States and a lack of legal options for families to live with each other.”

Where do you think current policy needs to go to adequately handle this influx?

“Unless root causes are addressed, the outflow will not stop.”

“The only way to address root causes, including insecurity, is through economic and social development, a rehabilitative criminal justice system and the expansion of visa types and quotas for children and adults participating in transnational families. These efforts could help repair the social contract. At the same time, I think the U.S. needs to stop deporting gang members until nations no longer have the world’s highest homicide rates.

“In the U.S., we are able to absorb those arriving. They are driven and talented and should be valued for their contributions.”